The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-10
OCTOBER MAGAZINES.
Glimpse at the Literature of the Month
Something to Please ALI Tastes.

The North American Review Cor October
tans several articles of unusual interest Among
them is Rev. James Freeman Clarkes creed
given under the head Of why am not Free
Religionist." Following after Wong Chin Foo's
reasons for being heather, and Rev. O. B.
Frothinsham.s arguments in favor of free re-
ligion he sweeps away the sophistries of those
writer's without effort. To the strictly orthodox
who are accustomed unthinkingly to regard Mr..
Clarke as something of a heather, this exposition
of the lofty and devout Christian faith will per-
haps be in the nature Of revelation. Stephen
w. Dorsey points out the fasity of the charges
recently made By George w. Julian in regard to
Land Stealing in Now Mexico" and INDUCES.
incidentally. in some very pointed and personal
comments on the writer's record and the nature
of the service be has undertaken perform for
the administration. In a very calm and dispas-
clears away some Of the popular "Delus-
ions about Wall Street, MIR. Hugh
Black of Kincardine. Ont, thinks
he has discovered another Bacon cipher in
Shakespeares celebrated epitaph. This cipher
when applied to the inscription he undertakes
to demonstrate not only discloses the assertion
but. together with collateral circumstances.
brings out tho probability that Shakespeare
took this manner of acknowledging the truth.
Mr.. Edward CASTOR Clark has investigated
Blacks theory. and gives his approval of it. If
this remarkable discovery be accepted as
rect Donneily is outdone since it will nc longer
the work. the epitaph being sufficiently convinc-
ing. The fifth paper of the series in Possible
Presidents. sets forth the merits of David b.
Hill James w. Watson writes of his acquain-
lance with the King of Dahomey. and General
Beauregard contributes paper on the battle of
Petersburg. Several articles Of a political
nature complete tho number
The reading public is apt to assume that the
best periodical lecture is monopolized by the half
dozen or so magazines popularity known as
"frst-class," and inclined to look with some dis
trust upon the claims of new candidates for
their favor in this field. An examination of
some of these young and ambitious pu blications.
however, is convincing proof Of their
Among the several recent ventures of this sort,
none has established itself rapidly the
front rank as the American Magazine. Begin
ming as the Brooklyn Magazine, it passed into
other hands few months ago, was removed to
New York, the best writer's of the country Sc
cured as contributors and editors of ability and
discrimination placed in charge The result is
not only pleasing to the public to which it CATERS
but must be gratifying to the publishers The
October number opens with illustrated arti-
Gle by Arthur Howard Noll, descriptive of Mount
Popocatapetl, or Tho Mountain that Smokes"
Another illustrated sketch bears the enticing
title, "A Pot Hunters Paradise" @. B. Adams
writes entertainingly of American experiences
in China. Oscar Foote gives the history of the
Washington Monument, Paul Pastun discusses
Longfellow's Method, Grant Allen describes, in
a somewhat egotistical way, his lares and pen
ates. and q. L. White writes of natural gas and
the Pittsburg gas field. One Of the most inter-
esting and suggestive papers is that by Anna B.
Mcmahon on Some New Factors in Social Evo-
luton" said factors being the increasingly pop
to educate girls to a higher point of culture than
that attained by their brothers. The fiction of
the number is good. The serial, "Olivia Della
PLANE" is in Edgar Fawcett's best vein The
Twins of Weasel Branch" is a curious study OF
the primitive conditions of life in the Tennessee
mountains. Kate Putnam Osgood and Maurice
Thompson are among the poetical contributors.
The editorial departments are we'll conducted,
and have some features out of the stereotyped
order.
The Century for October is of the even merit
which its readers have learned to expect, and
contains especially noticeable features. The
opening paper is one of Miss Van Rensselaer's
interesting architectural studies, Ely Cathedral
being chosen as the subject. Tho Lincoln his
tory has reached the first chapter of the seces-
sion movement, and relates the part taken in
the preliminary proceedings by traitorous men,
bers Of Puchanau's Cabinet considerable pri-
vate correspondence being given to show the
double part they acted for months. "Unce
Tom in Kentucky" by James Lane Allen. is an
account of slave life as it was in that State
when Mrs. Stowe made her studies of Uncle
Tom and his family. An excellent portrait of
Mrs. Stowe forms the 'front.' spiece of the maya
zine as an accompaniment to this article Frank
Stockton's "Hundredth Man. a story not in the
writer's best vein, reaches its conclusion in this
issue. as does also Joel Chandler Harrs's
"Azalia." 1.-The American Game of Football"
with diagrams and illustrations, is paper to
please those who are interested in athletic
sports. Edmund Clarence Stedman contributes
int Acftn o%rdv af n01ic Oh v,yIa
the head of Twelve Years of British Song"
The installment of war papers consists of
count. by Capt Daniel Oakley, of the march
through Georgia and the Carolinas; of Sher-
mans march from Savannah 30 Bentonvile. by
Gen. W. Fl. Slocum: and of the battle Of Ben
tonvlle, by Wade Hampton. The poetry is of
the usual mag aZine quality. Among the Top
les of the Time" discussed editoria,ly, are the
jury system and the restriction of Immigration.
The October Wide-Awake is a particularly
good one There is a greater variety of subjects
than usual and some new names appear among
the contributors. Maurice Thompson tells about
one OF his boyish freaks in q sail boat in the
Gulf of Mexico, having started out to be a
pirate. Grant Alien gives lesson in botany.
his subject being "The Pitcher Plant" 1.-THE
Story of Ksedon's Bluffs" bv Charles Esbert
Craddock, is concluded, and Mrs Catherwood's
Tho Secret of Roselades," is continued in her
bappiest vsn There is beautifully illustrated
poem. by Mary Barker Dodge, called ''The
Dairy Maids of Dort." which is fit companion
for the illustrated article, Concord; Her High
ways and Byways." by Margaret Sidney. In the
latter, one learns about the haunts of Thoreau.
and gets glimpse into the studio of French, the
sculptor, and the old Concord Library. In the
Successful Women" series. the story of the
life of Alice E. Freeman, president of Welles-
ley College. is told; and there is fairy tale by
Louis Imoeen Quincy and another chapter
of WAR Times at LaRose Blanche: Taken
all together, it is a charming number.
In the October number of the Magazine of
American History Rev. Philip Schaff, D. D.. be-
gins a series of papers 1.-THE American Chap
ter of Church History. or the Relationship of
Church and State in the United States" por-
trait of Daniel Webster which forms the 'front.'
ispice of this issue. shows him to have been
remarkably handsome young man, and
forms curious contrast to the more familiar
portraits of this statesman taken later in life